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One example of this is the innodb_log_file_size configuration option. As discussed here, there are a series of steps that starts an hour before shutdown and goes to after shutting down. However, this doesn't appear to be documented in the MySQL documentation for this variable and I don't see a list of variables that you may not be able to adjust by simply editing the configuration file and restarting the server.

Does such a list of variables exist? What variables do I need to potentially watch when tuning MySQL to ensure compatibility with existing binary backups?

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It depends on which version you are using. By the time you get to 8.0, virtually everything can be dynamically changed. Here are 2 types of pages, each with a list. Note the version number in the URL; change as needed.

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/dynamic-system-variables.html

https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/en/server-system-variables.html -- Note the "Dynamic" column.

innodb_log_file_size used to be one of the worst settings to change. You could not simply change the config and restart -- the server would complain that the size does not match. Recently (sorry, don't know what version), the 'right thing' would be done with the files. But it still required a restart.

In my experience, 90% of users can get away with setting innodb_buffer_pool_size based on RAM size, then ignore the rest of the settings.

(If you wanted to talk specifically about innodb parameters, say so.)

If you want a critique of your settings, provide RAM size, SHOW VARIABLES; and SHOW GLOBAL STATUS; after it has been up at least a day. I have about 150 formulas to test; they typically lead to 5-10 recommended changes of the VARIABLES.

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  • My understanding is that the dynamic variables are those that you can change at runtime. In my specific case, we're using 5.5, so audit_log_file is listed as not dynamic. However, I know that you can just edit the my.cnf and restart the server to change the value of audit_log_file. I didn't think to narrow down my search by limiting to values that aren't dynamic, but you can still change some non-dynamic values with a simple restart of the server. Having that final list of variables, or a way in the documentation to identify those variables, would still be helpful to me. Commented Nov 5, 2016 at 10:21
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    Links line the ones I gave you are the best that I know of.
    – Rick James
    Commented Nov 5, 2016 at 15:51

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